Why Can I not Fly Directly After a Dive? You plan to book a dive just a few hours before you fly? Well, I’m afraid that’s not going to be possible. Wondering why? Keep on reading to know why flying after diving is very dangerous and how many hours you should wait on ground before boarding. A Higher Risk of Suffering Decompression Sickness Truthfully speaking, ascending to a high altitude immediately after diving increases a person’s risk of suffering from decompression sickness. Flying after diving increases this risk because of the decreasing atmospheric pressure as you ascend. You might only have a few tiny bubbles in your body when you reach the surface after a dive, which should cause no problems at all. However, if you go flying immediately without waiting a sufficient amount of time, these small bubbles could expand (due to the reduction in pressure with altitude) and could cause the onset of DCS symptoms. So, What Are the Basics You Need to Know? A good practice is to have a “down day” prior to flight after any diving. Space any planned flights (even at lower altitudes) with a day between the last dive and the flight departure. Two days might be a better plan, especially if there was deep or repetitive diving. The best course of action for any divers that are going to be flying is to use a dive computer for all of their dives. Modern dive computers will calculate a “time-to-fly” and recommend a wait time for a diver prior to a flight. To be accurate, divers must use the same computer for all their dives, and on every dive. Time-to-fly calculations are cumulative based on diving times, depths, and number of dives. How Much Time Should You Wait before Flying? The Divers Alert Network (DAN) recommends a 12-hour minimum surface interval before flying, and the PADI “Flying After Diving” guidelines say divers should not ascend to a high altitude within 12 hours of completing a single dive or 18 hours after doing multiple dives (whenever possible, wait 24 hours). As MolaMola Diving Center we recommend not to fly for as long as possible after your dives, the longer the better. Here are some basic rules to follow: After single no-decompression dives, a minimum pre-flight surface interval of 12 hoursis suggested. After multiple no-decompression dives per dayor multiple days of diving, a minimum pre-flight surface interval of 18 hours is suggested. Just Explore Beautiful Oman during the “Waiting-Time” To err on the side of safety, many divers plan a 24-hour surface interval and spend their time exploring topside attractions. Here are a few other activities divers should explore at the end of their diving holiday as there is a lot to see in Muscat, Oman: The great Mosque – really worth seeing from the inside as well as from the outside The Opera House – for people interested in culture and architecture Mutrah Souq – let the smells of the market inspire you Note: The above info is for sports diving and should not apply to commercial diving or nitrox diving. Because of the complex nature of decompression sickness (DCS), and because decompression schedules are based on unverifiable assumptions, there can never be fixed flying after diving rules that can guarantee prevention of bends completely. Whether you wait 12 hours or 18 hours (or more), there are no guarantees that you won’t get decompression sickness (DCS) when you fly. Of course, the longer your pre-flight surface interval time, the more nitrogen you expel from your system—which minimizes the risk of decompression sickness. Previous PostNext Post

Daymaniyat – Jewel of the Middle East Welcome to Daymaniyat Island Nature Reserve, our favorite escape and a gem of Oman’s natural beauty. This breathtaking sanctuary is more than just a destination; it’s where you can immerse ourselves in the serene embrace of nature, dive into crystal-clear waters, and experience the vibrant marine life that makes this place truly an extraordinarily protected Nature Reserve. Location & Access Daymaniyat Island is situated about 18 kilometers off the coast of Barka, just north of Muscat. Conveniently, MolaMola Diving Center operates from Al Mouj Marina, allowing us to transport you to this pristine haven much quicker and in season often spot whale sharks on the way to the Island!  What to Expect Daymaniyat Islands is a group of 9 small Islands surrounded by turquoise waters and stunning coral reefs, home to endangered sea turtles, untouched coral reefs, and exotic fish. Daymaniyat Islands offers great dive sites to all level divers, beginners to advanced.  Understandably this is one of Oman’s leading dive spots – with an underwater tapestry of colorful corals, playful fish, and serene sea turtles, here you can find a true paradise for marine life lovers. Among its habitants are Zebra sharks, gant stingrays, Morray eels and 5 of the world’s 7 sea turtles species. And of course, the whale sharks! Onshore, the island’s unspoiled beauty and tranquil environment provide a perfect backdrop.  A Protected Paradise Designated a Nature Reserve by the Omani government in 1996, Daymaniyat Island is a haven for conservation. The reserve is home to and an important nesting site for many sea turtle species. From May through October, Daymaniyat Island is closed to visitors to safeguard the nesting turtles and migratory birds that use the island as a crucial stopover. This period of protection ensures that these incredible creatures can thrive without disturbance, contributing to the island’s rich biodiversity. Check out our daily snorkeling and scuba-diving tours and come explore Daymaniyat Islands with us! Previous PostNext Post

The Turtles of Oman Are you into Turtles? If yes, Oman is your place to be. There are seven different types of sea turles around the world – and Omani waters are home to five of them. Keep on reading to get to know the different kind of turtles to see around Muscat while Scuba Diving in Oman. Many, Many Green Turtles The following sea turtles are the ones you find in our waters: The Leatherback Sea Turtles: She is not only the largest of all sea turtles with a size ranging from 1.2 up to 2.4 meters but also the oldest of all of them. They survived the extinction of the dinosaurs! But the Leatherback Turtle doesn’t come ashore in Oman – so they can only be seen during Snorkeling or Scuba Diving in Oman. Green Turtle: This turtle gets its name from the green fat found underneath its carapace. She is the one Sea Turtle we see most on our dives or while Snorkeling. Olive Ridley Turtle: This turtle is the second smallest in the world but the most abundant of all sea turtles. These turtles are known for their mass nesting and breeding. Thousands of females travel together and lay their eggs on the same beach. Hawksbill Turtle: The hawksbill sea turtle is unfortunately, a critically endangered species. Their appearance can be easily recognized by their sharp, curving beak and their saw-like shell margins. Loggerhead Turtle: The loggerhead sea turtle comes ashore to lay eggs less frequently than other types of turtle spotting. One is a real treat. The females nest every 2 to 4 years. Where to See Sea Turtles To see turtles – especially the Green Turtle – on shore, its totally worth a trip to the beautiful beaches in Ras al Hadd or Ras Al Jinz. But to see them while Scuba Diving in Oman, we can totally recommend the Daymaniyat Island for you. The tiny archipelago of rocky islands and the first marine reserve created in Oman is located north of Muscat within a 40-minute boat ride from Al Mouj Marina where MolaMola Diving Center is located The coral reefs surrounding the island are an important area for nesting sea turtles – and that is especially why the beaches at Daymaniyat Island are closed to enter during the months from May to October. Every year, an abundance of turtles migrate to the beaches and shorelines of the Arab Peninsula to dig a hole and lay their eggs. In Oman, which is one of the hot spots for turtle-hatching, the best time to see them is between May and August every year. During these months, around 20,000 turtles come to Oman’s beaches, especially on the Eastern side. These turtles lay 50,000 to 60,000 eggs during this period and are buried under the sand, just to protect them. After the eggs are laid, around 55 days later the eggs hatch and the babies begin their lives. The good news? Snorkeling or Scuba Diving with Turtles in Oman is possible year-round. Scuba Diving and Snorkeling with Turtles We think what most people love most while snorkeling or Scuba Diving, is to see a turtle underwater. They are so graceful as if flying underwater and very peaceful as well. On our dives either at Daymaniyat Island or Fahal Island, we spot a turtle almost every time. So what are you waiting for? Book the best Scuba Diving in Oman with MolaMola Diving Center right now. Previous PostNext Post

Snorkeling and Boat Trips to the Turtle Bay Oman Have you visited Ras al Jinz / Ras al Hadd during your vacation here in Oman to see the turtles nesting? Yeah? Well done, it is such a beautiful place. And now you are looking to swim with some of the turtles? Even better! You found the right place to do so. We will take you to Daymaniyat Island – the best place for Snorkeling in Oman and the place where you can meet the Jackson family. A group of 5 turtles living at the Turtle Bay. Five from 7 Different Types of Sea Turtles Are in Oman There are seven different types of sea turles around the world – and Omani waters are home to five of them. Every year an abundance of turtles migrate to the beaches and shorelines of the Arab Peninsula to dig a hole and lay their eggs. During these months, around 20,000 turtles come to Oman’s beaches. What a big number, right? All of these turtles live inside our Omani Ocean – and they LOVE Daymaniyat Island. The Jackson Family at Turtle Bay Turtle Bay is the best site to snorkel at Daymaniyat Island if you want to see the turtles. Sometimes we can see more than 8 turtles at the same spot, and there are more all around us. We usually can also find the Jackson family, 5 turtles living together. It’s truly a magical sight: swimming in crystal clear, warm water, watching turtles swimming, eating and playing with each other. What are you waiting for? The turtles are here all year around. You can just book your Snorkeling trip with us and we will make sure you can see them! Next Post

Why It’s Worth to Do a Refresher Course! Many of us are in the same situation: Covid made us stuck in our home base, not able to travel and especially not able to Scuba Dive. Since you’ve had a long break from Scuba Diving, it is worth taking a Refresher Course. Get to know why and what the course looks like. Better to Be Over-Prepared than Risk a Problem Even though, your PADI certification never expires, it is better to be over-prepared than risk a problem because you forget something important. If you have been out of the water for a while, your Scuba skills might feel a little rusty and in need of a tune-up. A refresher is a program, where divers receive the assistance and supervision of a dive professional in a pool or shallow water environment while they review the basic skills of diving. It should also include a thorough review of equipment usage and some knowledge development. The Refresher differs from a ‘check dive’ in which a group of divers might be asked to check their weighting and perform a few skills to demonstrate basic diving competence before heading off into deeper water to enjoy a regular dive. Step by Step with a Private Instructor With us, you will be going through step by step with a private instructor. He or she will help you to set up your equipment, will review with you some of the basic skills required for Scuba Diving but will also give you some more pro tips along the way. Then together you will jump into the water, to review some basic but very important skills. You will stay below the surface until the instructor can feel that you feel comfortable again – then you can join the rest of the group for two amazing dives. Use Your Own Judgement Honestly, as from our experience, 90 per cent of the divers who ask to do a refresher don’t really need to do one, and 90 per cent of the divers who refuse a refresher really do. This makes sense: Usually people who belong to the safe, considerate diver (who everyone would love to dive with) tend to book a Refresher – even if they would be fine without it. But usually people who refuse to do a Refresher program are the ones who tend to create problems for everyone. A good diver should be able to use their own judgement to determine whether or not they would benefit from a thorough refresher program or just need an easy check-dive to get themselves back into the water. Are You Asking Yourself Now – Should I Take a Refresher? PADI suggests that divers who did not dive in the last six months should take a Refresher course. In our opinion, this can vary a bit. If a diver was certified Open Water but made no other dives after the course, then a refresher is essential if the next dive is anything more than a few months later. For a diver with less than 20 logged dives then 6 months out of the water would warrant a tune-up of some description. An absence from the water of more than two years should make even experienced divers consider a confined water session before heading out into the depths. Worried about the Handsignals? You feel like taking a PADI Refresher Course with us? Check all the details here  You have been diving within the last six months but you keep on forgetting the Scuba Handsignals? Don’t worry – we got you covered with our Blog post here: The most important Scuba Diving Hand Signals. Next Post

Why Every Diver Should Have a Log Book Travelers collect Passport stamps – Scuba Divers collect Dive Shop stamps. Quite true, isn’t it? Seeing your logbook becoming richer and richer with information’s is a great feeling and a lovely memory of all the dives you did. But have you ever asked yourself, why it is recommended to log your dives? A Proof of Your Experience Dive logs were first used to ensure safe dive planning of repetitive dives. Divers would record the information from previous dives in a logbook, so that they could calculate the safe parameters for their next one. With the advent of dive computers, planning has become largely obsolete. But there are other reasons as well. First of all the Dive logs are proof of your experience as a diver. In order to climb up the PADI leader, you need to prove that you’ve successfully completed a certain number of dives. But not only that, the number of dives you have completed is also a way to proof your diving experience. Many dive shops like us at MolaMola Diving Center are using the number of your dives to make sure your experience level matches the type of diving we plan to do. Another aspect are the information. Let’s say you haven’t been diving for a while and the next Dive Shop you are going to asks you how much weight you need, how many millimeter your last wetsuit was and when your last dive was. Lucky you having logged everything in your logbook where everything is noted down. And last but not least a logbook is a way to capture and preserve your memories. Many divers use their dive log as an underwater journal or diary. They keep their memories and their incredible experiences while Scuba Diving in one place. What Is There to Log The level of detail you choose to go into in your dive log is just as personal as why you keep it. It could be the bare-bones of your dive, or a detailed diary entry of who you dived with, what you saw, and how you felt. A typical entry consists of the dive site, day and time of the dive, duration of the dive and depth. Divers also often log things like water temperature, equipment, and what they saw. f you’re simplifying your log you can stick to these fundamentals; perhaps you’re a regular diver or a dive pro who’s no longer in need of additional information. However, going into more detail can be rewarding, particularly when it comes to weights. If you’re a travel diver who frequents different locations – flitting between warm and cold water, or diving with different cylinders – getting your weighting correct is a minefield. Digital or Paper – It’s Up to You In this modern world, it’s not surprising that digital logbooks have entered the scene making recording a breeze. These modern electronic dive logs also use statistics, graphs, and other tools to help you track and analyze your underwater explorations. But in our opinion, nothing beats the old-fashioned paper logbook. We at MolaMola Diving Center love sitting down with people at the end of our trip to fill the logbook, exchange stamps, talk about what we have seen and what there is more to see when Scuba Diving in Oman. Next Post

Protect What You Love – Why Sustainable Diving Is So Important For us scuba divers, the ocean is our playground. We descend under the surface, we explore, and we often have the privilege of observing beautiful. For these incredible experiences to continue we need to honour the fact that we’re merely guests in the ocean; it’s imperative that we respect what we love. The oceans absorb a quarter of all carbon dioxideOur oceans regulate our climate. Did you know that the oceans absorb a quarter of all the carbon dioxide that humans put into the atmosphere? Over 90% of the additional heat caused by global warming is stored in the Oceans. Also, did you know that Scientists have discovered that many marine invertebrates produce antibiotic, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory substances? The oceans help us – let us help them. Different human activities are putting our oceans under threatIn the entire cosmos, there’s only one blue planet – ours. Unfortunately, different human activities are putting our oceans under threat. Overfishing is reducing fish populations, threatening the supply of nutritious food and changing marine food webs. Approximately 80 percent of the pollution in the oceans comes from land, and coastal zones are especially vulnerable to pollutants. Plastics are also particularly problematic with enormous floating rubbish patches forming in the oceans. Climate change and its related impacts, such as ocean acidification, are affecting the survival of some marine species. Coastal development is destroying and degrading important coastal marine ecosystems such as coral reef, seagrass meadows and mangroves. As divers, we’re blessed with the chance to see what few others see; an entire world underwater, with unique geology, biology, and a life cycle all of its own. But we’ve also got a front-row seat to the negative impact humans have on that world; coral bleaching, underwater debris and garbage, and declining populations of marine animals. There are many steps that we can take as divers, big and small, to protect the future of our blue planet and to make our underwater adventures more sustainable. We need clean and healthy oceans to support our own health and survival, even if we don’t live anywhere near them. Each and every one of us can make a difference, it’s time to take action! That’s why, as MolaMola Diving Center, we are following these easy rules every single day. Help us and save the Ocean together with us: Do not throw trash into the Ocean Do not take anything from the ocean Try to use as less single-use plastic as possible Do not feed the fish Do not touch or chase marine life Do not stand or walk on corals   Next Post